‘Fairly Legal’ Set Visit: Newcomer Ryan Johnson raises the bar in season two

You are going to find things are pretty different in the world of Kate Reed (Sarah Shahi) when season two of Fairly Legal kicks-off on March 16th. Plot lines get heavier, cases are more intense, and the lawyer-turned-moderator can’t seem to catch a break in neither her personal nor professional life.

I had the pleasure to meet with the cast of the USA drama recently in Vancouver, British Colombia and check out the brand new set where the Canadian city is magically transformed into San Francisco, California. One of the biggest changes you will notice from the premiere is the addition of Australia hottie Ryan Johnson (Follow him on Twitter!) brought in to wreak havoc not only at Reed and Reed but also in the life of the shows protagonist.

(His arrival also adds one more name to the list of “hotboys of the USA Network” which already include the likes of Matt Bomer from White Collar and Burn Notice star Jeffrey Donovan.)

Sadly Sarah Shahi wasn’t on set that day due to illness but we got some pretty good scoop from Ryan about what is to come throughout season two. Trust me, with all the back and forth between Kate and Justin (Michael Trucco), the show really needed Ben (Johnson) to spice things up a bit and get them out of their comfort zone.

So does Ben’s arrival create a love triangle for Kate? Absolutely! To set the scene a bit, so you’re not lost during this interview, Ben tries to put the moves on Kate after spotting her at a bar in episode one. She doesn’t give him the time of day which not surprisingly turns Ben on.

A twist of fate brings them back together in a professional capacity but after Justin makes a shocking confession–the existence of a love triangle is silently confirmed.

Q: Describe your first meeting with Kate Reed.

RYAN: In the first episode Ben turns up… I think he’s a little intrigued by this woman, a little bit excited by her. He sees her as a kind of a worthy adversary because often, I get the impression that Ben’s the kind of guy that can work his way into a lady’s pants a little easier than some. But then, ah, when he meets Kate she shuts him down immediately. And so I think he, he’s interested in her and she’s really smart and she’s a lawyer, and there’s just something about her that’s interesting and different.

So when he finds out that, that, that the ex is an ADA and their paths cross there’s a lot of tail sniffing. So that’s fun for Ben because then it’s a lot of chest puffing and bobbing and kind of trying to get a rise out of this guy as much as he can. And because he’s so by the book and so stiff, Ben has a field day with it.

Q: By the end of the premiere episode, we find Kate and Justin at a very critical point in their relationship. Does this open up the avenue for, a romantic relationship between Ben and Kate?

RYAN: She’s definitely burning a candle for the ex. And so as much as Ben may at times be new and interesting I think there’s something about the stability and comfort of her ex husband. So, it’s like all the things that were kind of wrong about him are the things that she goes back to in some ways, like the stability that Justin has I think. But it’s not, I think perhaps in Ben’s mind it’s less exciting.

I think the fact that Kate and Ben argue so much and the fact that they’re so passionate about what they do and the fact that they’re so fiery, that’s the kind of other option, and that’s what she’s playing up.

I know so many of you are fans of the bromance between so many of our small screen pairs that I want you all to know that, off-screen, Ryan Johnson and Michael Trucco are having a full blown bromance!

: Towards the start it was very social and very bonding, and Trucco and I, we had power walks and we get together and talk man stuff because it’s a very female driven show. [On a typical day] I’ll wake up, kiss my wife goodbye, come in and say hello to the makeup team, I’ll talk to Sara about her child and motherhood, and then, Virginia.

So Trucco and I or Baron [Vaughn], whenever we get a chance to talk about anything slightly male, we will. And it was really to the point we’re all standing around looking at baby pictures and getting really involved in kind of oohing and ahing, then I went, well, I really need to see my mates. You know, I just need to talk about foods and motorbikes and stuff, you know.

Trust me, you guys are going to LOVE Ryan!! Check out this special 4-minute preview of season two and get a better idea of the new Kate/Ben relationship. Don’t forget to tune in to an all new season of Fairly Legal, March 16th only on USA Network.